Coating apparatus



R. A. BEAUEwEJOUR COATING APPARATUS Filed 061. so, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i .2-

1 w L II S 2/ f L. .22 /7 /6 6 24 {x /2 INVENTOR 561m? 6 fieauge our' ATTORNEYS July 27, 1926. v

R. A. BEAUSEJOUR COATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 30, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY 7k *M ATTORNEYS or explosion that may occur.

Patented July 27, 1926.

.sfrare 3 1,593 rare-Na caries.

A. IBEA'USESTOUlR,. OF BQRT, lRJlCHMOND, NEW YORK, WSSIGLNOB iTQ :STANDARD VZAIHQ'I'SEH WMGRKS, LUFJNE'W YORK, Y A CORHORATION OF NEWFYORK.

:GOA'IING APPARATUS.

Application fi1ed0ctober 30, 1925.

This invention relatesmto in' provements in. apparatus for applying inflammable liquid coating compositions, such as. celluvlose ester lacquers containing cellulose ni- Male or inflammable solventor diluent maor diluents frequently .undergorapid evap- -oration, even at 1 ordinary -.temperature, and, .as vtheir vapors, when in admixture with air, readily take the, a hazard of ifire orexplosion is involved. For certain pur- POSGS It has been fliOllllCl advantageous to :apply such lacquers by dipping operations,

but fOllZllQ treatment either oi a large numher of small objects or of objects lltlVingcOD- siderable surface areathe volume orlithedip- ,ping hath required is :so great that the fire or explosion hazard considerably increased; :for example, as compared to an operation in which the lacquer iis applied by spraying.

:It is one of theobjeets ott this invention to provide an apparatus :for applying such lacquers, or other inflammable liquid coating compositions, in which (the danger of fire or explosion .is materially reduced if not substantially eliminated, and which reduces to a minimumdamage due to any fire and advantagesof the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The apparatus ofthe present invention is of special value and application for carry ing out the process described inmy application filed August 19, 1925,.Serial No. 51,201.

lnithe apparatus ofthepresent invention,

the liquid coating composition is applied by dipping. The dipping is effected in i2. dipping bath comprising a layer of the coating composition floating on a non-inflammable liquid body, the floating layer of coating composition lfOl llllIlQillflllll OVGI the object or objects being dipped as they pass through*thefioating layer into the sup porting body of non-inflammable liquid permitting the object or objects to be coated to any desiredextent. The volume of the liquid coating composition necessary to employ is .thus materially reduced, itmay even Other objects.

Serial No. 65,743.

be but a small fractional part of that volume required for complete immersion of the object orobjects tobe coated, so that the amount of inflammable material .and consequently the risk involved is likewise reduced. Further to reduce the hazard, according to the present invention, means are provided for Withdrawing "the relatively small volume of liquid coating composition employed from the dipping "operation with any dangerous rise in temperature. Where the use eta very large volume of .an inflammable coatingcomposition is involved, it is extremely.diiiicult'if not impossible to .remove the coating composition suiiiciently quickly to prevent a serious .contlagration if a Iiire star-its; butfby providing an apparatusin which'airlati-vely small amount oflthe coating..composition is, employed at any one time, the withdrawal otthis relajtively small, amount vcan be eii'ected with Suiiicient rapidity, in. accordance with this invention,vito. prevent fire or toy avoid any serious, conflagration {in case of a fire.

.The invention 'will be further described in connection with the. accompanying drawings, which illustrate .inwa diagrammatic andiconventional manner apparatus embodying the invention, but it. will (be, understood that this further and :more, detailed description and illustration. are 101'. the purpose :of. exemplification .onlynand, that. the invention/is. notjilimited thereto. ,In the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 represents in elevation iandpartly .insection with parts broken. away one form of apparatusembodying. the invention,

.Fig. '2 is .a .zl'ragmentary endwiew with .parts broken away :of the dipping tank il- .lustrated in Fig.1,

Figjf?) vrepresents in elevation with parts brokenawayn modified form of apparatus embodying .the invention, and

trepresents :a .further .lnodification of apparatusxofthegeneral type illustrated in .3.

Referring,particularlyto Figs. 1, and2, a

. dipping tank- 5 .adaptedto contain anon-in- .flammable-liquid-body6 is arranged beneath a vertical movable iframe .ortracl: .7. .The objects :to .be .dippedcare. supported. from a truck .ro'r .carriage 8. which during ,the dipping operationis carried on theYframe 7.

,fllhecarriage 8 is 1noyable on to and off of .the trams Z andfby providing a number of these carriages successive dipping operations can be carried out rapidly by running the carriage supporting the object or objects which have just been dipped oii ot the frame 7 and replacing it With a carriage supporting the object or objects next to de dipped. To provide for regular and controlled vertical movement of the frame or track 'i', one end of the frame is supported by a plunger 9 of a hydraulic jack 1t) and the other end of the frame or track is supported by a Wire rope or equalizing cable 11 running over suitable pulleys and connected to the end 0'1 thev frame or track adjacent the plunger so that vertical. movement of the frame or track Wlll be uniform at both ends. To operate the hydraulic jack, 'tluid under pressure from connection 12 is supplied to the two- Way valve 13 which also communicates With the chamber of the jack through connection 14 and an outlet connection 15. The valve 13 is arranged to permit the introduction of fluid under pressure from connection 12 into the jack chamber or to permit the escape of fluid from the jack chamber through connection 14 or to close the jack chamber. The valves 16 and 1'? are provided in the fluid inlet and fluid outlet connections, respectively, for regulating the rate of tlovv of fluid therethrough and thereby the rate of vertical movement of the track or frame 6. An exhaust fan 18' is arranged for the removal of vapors arising from the dipping tank 5. A pair of hinged covers 19 and 20 are also provided to close the upper end. of the dipping tank When notin use to assist in reducing evaporation losses.

The liquid coating composition to be applied to objects dipped in the tank is floated on the liquid body 6 so that a layer of the coating composition is'provided over the upper surface of the liquid comprising the major part of the contents of the dipping tank. The supporting liquid body is of a non-inflammable nature; for example, With cellulose ester lacquers, the noninflammable liquid body may be Water or an aqueous saline solution, as described in my application above identified. The liquid coating composition may, for example, be supplied to the dipping tank through supply connection 21. An outlet 22 is provided communicating with the interior of the dipping tank at a point adjacent the normal'liquid level of the non-infiammable body on which the coating composition is supported. A valve 23 is provided in the connection 24 trom the outlet 22 which is normally closed but which is capable of operation to open the connection permitting discharge through the outlet 22 and the connection 24. Manual or automatic means or both may be provided for operation of this valve.

In the apparatus illustrated, automatic temperature responsive means effective to open the valve at a predetermined temper: ture, for example a temperature less than that resulting if the coating composition in the tank takes fire, are provided. This temperature responsive means comprises a tusi ble link 25 connected to a chain or cable 26 supporting an arm 27 on the stem of the valve 23 against the pull or the Weight 28 so that a temperature sutlicient to melt the link 25 causes the opening of the valve 2;; by releasing the Weight 28. it Will be ap parent that in normal operation the provision of the outlet connection 22 has no eliect, but in case of a dangerous rise in temperature this outlet connection provides for withdrawal of the entire volume of inflann mable coating composition floating on the non-intlammable liquid body in the dipping tank, the outlet being arranged adjacent the normal liquid level of the non-inflammablr supporting liquid body.

To promote rapid Withdrawal of the inflammable liquid coating composition from the dipping tank, several expedients may be employed, for example, a tank continuously maintained under sub-atmospheric pressure may be connected to the outlet connection so that upon opening of the valve in the outlet connection the liquid material in the dip ping tank above the outlet connection is immediately Withdrawn, or a tank may be ar ranged at a level below the dipping tank so that the liquid in the dipping tank above the outlet Will flow into it by gravity, or a pump discharging at a point away from the dipping tank may be connected to the outlet and arranged to be set in operation at the same time that the valve in the outlet con nection is opened.

In the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. a safety tank 31 is connected to the outlet 22 through connections 29 and 24 and a vacuum pump 30 is arranged in communication With the tank 31 so that a pressure well below atmospheric pressure may be maintained therein throughout the period of operation. WVith this arrangement, immediately upon opening of the valve 23 so much of the contents of the dipping tank as are inflammable are in'imediately forced into the closed tank 31 by the excess of atmospheric pressure, This form of apparatus is particularly advantageous Where a very large dipping tank is employed, as with this arrangement the dipping tank may then be located on the ground level and the safety tank may be provided Without requiring any excessive excavation.

In the form oi apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3, a tank 32 is arranged at a level suiticiently below the level of the outlet connection 22 so that the natural head provided will effect the rapid discharge of the inflammable contents ot' the dipping-tank. The tank 32 is a closed tank and is vented through i n 6 l 1 3, t CUHIlGCtlOH to a po nt s'uiiiciently remote to eliminate tire hazard so'tha t the safety discharge system cannot become air bound.

The connection 34 between the valve 23 and and vapors from the dipping tank into the,

tank 32 to'ellminate any possibility of ignition of the contents of tank 32 by transmission of fire through-the connections between this tank and the dipping tanlc lhis form of apparatus is advantageous where it is convenientto arrange. the safetytank at a substantial distance below the dipping tank;

As the volume of liquid coating composition in the dipping tank of the present invention is always relatively small, the supply or" liquid coating composition in the dip ping tank is rapidly depleted in operation, and it is accordingly convenient to provide for automatic maintenance of the supply of liquid coating composition in the dipping tank during normal operation. An apparatus for accomplishing this is illustrated in Fig. 4. A supply tank 35 is arranged at a level somewhat above the liquid level in the dipping tank. This supply tank is normally closed but is provided with a removable cover 36 to permit the replenishing of the supply of liquid coating composition therein. When the cover 36 is to be removed, valves 37 and 38 are closed, and are kept closed until the cover 36 is again tightly in place. One connection 39 is provided from the lower part of the supply tank to a pointson'iewhat below the normal upper level of the layer of liquid coating composition in the dipping tank, and another connection 40 extending into the supply tank to a point closely adjacent the upper end thereof is provided con'ntnunicating with the interior of the dipping tank at the normal upper level of the layer of liquid coating composition. As the liquid coating composition is consumed, the level in the dipping tank falls below the opening into connection 40 permitting the escape or air therethrough into the supply tank and consequently permitting the flow of liquid coating composition from the supply tank through the connection 39 into the dipping tank until the opening of connection 40 is again covered.

As this arrangen'ient would permit of the dumping of the entire contents of the supply tank into the dipping tank in case of opening of the safety discharge outlet, means are provided for closing the connections 39 and 4:0 between the supply tank and the dipping tank whenever the valve 23 in the discharge connections communicating with the safety outlet 22 is opened. In the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l, these means comprise a pair of valves ll and 42 connected to the cable 26 between the fusible link and the weight supporting arm 27 on the valve 23. The release of the weight 28 thus operates to close the valvesal and 42, and-consequently to close con'imunicationbetween the supply tank and the dipping tank simultaneously was the; opening of valve 23.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an improved apparatus for applying inflammable coating compositions by dipping in which the lire hazard is at a minimum. By providing a non-inflamniable liquidbody in the clipping tankon which but a'relatively small amount of the inflammable liquid coating composition is support; ed, the riskis reducedbecause o'i the smaller quantity of inflammable material exposed in the dipping tank. By further providing for quick withdrawal of the inflammable material present, the danger is further reduced. The provision of dipping means employing but a relatively small amount of the inflammable coating composition reduces the risk not only because of the smaller volume of material present but in the apparatus of the invention also because it enables more rapid withdrawal of the inflammable material.

1 claim:

1. An apparatus for applying inflammable liquid coating compositions, comprising a dipping tank having a non-inflammable liquid body therein upon which floats a layer of the coating composition, an outlet communicating with the interior of the tank at a point adjacent the top surface of the said non-inflammable liquid body, and tom perature responsive means effective at a predetermined temperature to cause the withdrawal through the said outlet of coating composition floating on the said non-inflammable liquid body in the tank, without substantial removal of the non-inflammable liquid body.

2. An apparatus for applying inflammable liquid coating compositions, comprising a dipping tank having a non-inflammable liquid body therein upon which floats a layer of the coating composition, an outlet communicating with the interior of the tank at a point adjacent the top surface of the said non-inflammable liquid body whereby to prevent substantial removal of the noninflammable liquid body, means for withdrawing coating composition floating on the said non-inflammable liquid body connected to the said outlet, and means interposed in the connection between the the outlet and the last named means normally closed but capable of opening the said connection.

3. An apparatus for applying inflammable liquid coating compositions, comprising a clipping tank having a non-inflammable liquid body therein upon which floats a layer of the coating composition, an outlet communicating with the interior of the tank at a point adjacent the top surface of the said non-inflannnable liquid body whereby to prevent substantial removal of the noninflammable liquid body, temperature responsive means eii'ective at a predetermined temperature to cause the. Withdrawal through the said outlet of coating composition floating on the said non-inflammable liquid body in the tank, and means for preventing the escape of gases and vapors from the tank through the said outlet.

l. An apparatus for applying inflammable liquid coating compositions, comprising a dipping tank having a non-inflammable liquid body therein adapted to float a layer of the coating composition, an outlet communicating With the interior oi the tank at a point adjacent the normal liquid level of the said non-inflammable -liquid body, supply means connected to the tank adapted to maintain a layer of the coating composition to a predetermined level in the tank, and temperature responsive means effective at a predetermined temperature to close the connections between the tank and the said supply means and to cause the Withdrawal through the said outlet oi? coating composition floating on the said non-inflammable liquid body in the tank.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

REME A. BEAUSEJ OUR. 

